Pastoral Perspectives

By J. Rob Hutto

Introduction

A few years ago I experienced one of the darkest periods of my life. My secular job had become nearly unbearable, but the manifestation of my struggle was most pronounced in my ministry. During this time, God provided a mentor who listened to me, advised me, and prayed for me. When I finally began to see daylight, the Lord spoke to me through my mentor. God let me know that the time would come when I would help others in a manner similar to what I had experienced. Little did I know what God had in mind!

Two things have happened in fulfillment of this word from the Lord. First, I have recently had the opportunity to discuss ministry with several “new” ministers. They generally range from those who are in the process of applying for a license to preach to those who have been asked to pastor a church for the first time. Those who are pastoring have been doing so for only a short time. Regardless of which group they fall into, they have more than a few questions to ask. We have discussed a variety of issues peculiar to the ministry. I now have the opportunity to mentor others.

The second thing that has happened is I have felt an urge from the Lord to put in writing lessons that have had a positive impact on my ministry. Because of this, Pastoral Perspectives has been written.

This book has been written for ministers, both the inexperienced and the experienced. The

inexperienced minister (ministering for less than fifteen years) will find some things here that don’t come naturally. I had to learn them, sometimes from the Bible, sometimes in a class, but always from the Spirit.

I hope and pray that this book will be a source of inspiration and information from the Holy Ghost.

Those with more experience in the ministry (fifteen or more years) should find this book helpful as a resource for lessons already learned. Of course, the possibility exists that some of these lessons will be

new to them, and this is okay. But the fact is some of the most fundamental principles are the ones that are easiest to neglect. As we grow, we certainly outgrow many things, but some fundamentals are never

outgrown. Nevertheless, they may be forgotten in a world and ministry that is becoming ever more busy. It is often helpful to have a reference available to remind us of those fundamentals so that we can continue to do the Lord’s work by building on a solid foundation.

To those with considerable experience in the ministry, I want to encourage you to view these lessons, as well as others you have learned, as principles to teach. Please consider mentoring as an important part of your ministry. As you get closer to retirement, your value doesn’t diminish. It increases! We need you. Mentor us!

I consider these lessons to be vital. They have made a positive difference in my ministry. I still have much to learn, and, hopefully, will eventually have much more to teach. But these lessons are the beginning. I hope they will mean to you what they have meant to me. May God teach you and bless you in the ministry for which you have been called.

J. Rob Hutto

Chapter 1:

The Mission of Ministry

I remember the phone call I received from my State Overseer, Bishop Hector Ortiz, which settled the question of whether or not I would pastor a church under his supervision. I had never pastored a church, but I knew I was called to minister.

I had been around ministers all of my life. I had also read a good deal about the ministry. Therefore, I knew that pastoring was a profession in which there was a great deal of work with no clear-cut definition of what the job actually was. And so, keeping my still limited knowledge of pastoring in mind, I asked Bishop Ortiz for a job description! That’s right! I asked for the one thing that he could not give me.

He wisely did not attempt to give me a job description, and I never brought up the subject with him again. However, having worked in a number of secular jobs, I understood the value of having a set of job requirements. These requirements would tell me what I had to do in order to be successful. They would also enable me to judge my own success on the job before my supervisor did so for me. Nevertheless, the job of the Pastor, and by extension the minister, is not quite so easily put into one or two pages of expectations. Why is this?

Times, Congregations, and God

There are three things that every minister should keep in mind. First, he or she must realize that the church of today is unlike the church we grew up with.

Perhaps we had the blessing of growing up watching ministers who were good at what they did. They knew when to visit. They were good preachers. They were tactful. They knew what type of programs to initiate. However, we would be in trouble if we attempted to emulate everything those faithful ministers did. They served as good examples, but their methods may have been attractive because they were suitable for the era in which they were used. If they were really good pastors and you were able to set them in the twenty-first century, they wouldn’t do the same things that they did in the past. Their methods would be time-sensitive. They would know that the church has changed and is changing. In a sense, the church is fluid. This is because the culture around us changes. People respond to different types of stimulation today than they did even twenty years ago.

Second, we must understand that not only do we live in a different culture, but we also live in a world where churches are unique. A pastor may pastor a church and demonstrate a great deal of ability. Because of this, a church in need of a pastor might invite him or her to fill their pulpit as their new pastor. The pastor may expect to again be successful in his new position. However, this is not likely to happen if he has not understood that the new congregation has a unique collective personality. They are not simply an extension of his former congregation. They respond to different stimuli. They talk differently. They live differently. They have different expectations as compared to the other local church. The successful pastor should be personality-sensitive.

With regard to the collective personalities of different churches, I must say that I have only pastored one church. However, due to moving with my parents while living at home, as well as moving my church membership after getting married, I have attended no less than nine local congregations. This is in addition to visits to still more churches over the years. Having traveled so much and seen so many different congregations, I can truly say that each church had its own unique style of worshipping and working together. It doesn’t take a minister to see this. It takes two eyes and a visit to at least two different congregations.

Finally, we must understand that the ministry is peculiar. It is God-inspired and God-led. My experience with God leads me to believe that He isn’t very interested in my measuring up to a job description. He knows that not all needs are covered in writing. He wants ministers who are available to do whatever He wants us to do at a given time. Of course, in order to know what He desires, we must be God-sensitive. We must hear from God and go where He sends us.

Once a month I complete a report that is sent in to my State Headquarters. This is a necessary procedure that gives an account of what is going on in my local church. Many of the statistics you hear concerning churches come from these types of reports. But completing these reports is sometimes frustrating. They could act as a guide for what I am supposed to do. Yet, while I can get a good idea of what is expected of me, there are many things that are not asked for in the report. For example, the report asks how many homes I have visited, but it doesn’t ask how many people I watched die. It asks how many sermons I preached, but it fails to ask how many counseling sessions I conducted. It doesn’t ask me if I had to get out of bed in the middle of the night to hold someone’s hand in a hospital emergency room. It doesn’t ask me how many phone calls I made because God moved on me to do so.

Obviously, a job description would be difficult to write for nearly any facet of the ministry. The job changes too much with the passage of time, different personalities, and the wisdom and plan of God. Trying to write such a description would cause more anxiety than it would relieve. Rather than focus on the tasks of the ministry, it seems wise to look at what the Word says about the mission, or goal, of the ministry.

The Mission

The Word of God does a number of things for us, not the least of which is the giving of instructions. It instructs us in the ways of God. The minister will note that some of this instruction involves the ministry. As an Apostle, Paul wrote to ministers about the ministry, and he wrote to churches about his ministry. It is from these passages that we can gain a better understanding of our calling.

The following passage really stands out to me:

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which

is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God.

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this

mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;

that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:25-28)

Another State Overseer, Bishop Lanis Lewis, made a very simple statement in a ministers' convention. He said “you (pastors) are successful when Christ is being formed in your members.” This is actually biblical according to the scripture given above. If we are helping our members to be more like Jesus, then we are successful.

But how do we do this? This still does not seem to cover such practical activities as visitation and counseling. How do I know what to do as a Pastor? What is my job? What is expected of me? Take a look at the next verse in the passage above.

Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in

me mightily. (Colossians 1:29)

Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman sings a song on his Speechless recording that describes me very well. He talks about how he sat down and made a list of his talents and abilities and worked out a plan whereby God could use those gifts. According to the song, God stopped him. God told him what he wanted from the young man is “whatever”.[1]

Why is a job description so hard to write for a pastor? The reason is simple. My job is to do “whatever” God tells me to do. And if I don’t hear a voice or receive Divine Inspiration every day, then I still have the Word. The Word speaks clearly about remembering the poor (Galatians 2:9, 10), preaching even when we don’t feel like it (2 Timothy 4:2), visitation (Matthew 25:31-46), and prayer (Acts 6:4).

If I am Spirit-sensitive, then I will be better able to hear from God. I will still have to go without specific directions on occasion, but the Word and faith give me plenty to do.

My job is to do the will of God!

Chapter 2:

There is a God,

and You’re not Him

When I began pastoring, I thought my job was to straighten the church out. I thought if I could preach good messages and preach them powerfully enough, people would respond and change. Needless to say, I was in for a rude awakening. These people needed more than a good sermon or an eager Pastor.

Please don't misunderstand. These were not bad people. But I was out to change the world. Even though I was fairly mature, I still succumbed to the exuberance of youth. I believed God had endowed me with THE MESSAGE the church needed to hear. But what the people needed, if they needed anything, was God!

Dr. Gary Riggins of Lee College teaches two things to remember in conflict resolution that all Pastor’s need to hear. The first thing he says is “There is a God and you’re not Him.” The second thing is even more profound. It says, “There is a God, and I’m not Him.” Wow! Sometimes restating the obvious is like a new revelation. 1 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all… are changed… from glory (the glory of fleshly works) to glory (the glory of a God-filled life), even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Did you see that? Only God can change people on a Spiritual level. But I thought that was my job. But there is only one God, and I’m not Him. There is only one thing that will truly change people who need to be transformed. The people in my congregation and in every other congregation need to be touched by the Hand of God Himself!

The problem is that churches look for the “right” pastor so a dead church can be made alive. A pastor looks for the “right” program to resurrect a dying church. Maybe the “right” evangelist can do the job. Or maybe the pastor and congregation all look to the regional or international headquarters to straighten things out and hand down a blanket program that will get the rest of us on the right track.

I believe very much in good leadership. I believe that the right program (the one given by God) is desirable for any church. However, we often forget that Christ is the Head of the church, and He is the Life of the church, not the pastor or program or any other person.

The pastor is often expected to solve all of the problems of the local church, and certainly he is to facilitate change and growth when such is needed. The pastor must be a leader. He must be willing to initiate some of the programs that are used in the church. He must be willing to make a firm stand on doctrinal issues. However, many pastors approach a new church feeling that the responsibility for Spiritual change is theirs. This way of thinking is encouraged by many congregations.

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear. The pastor is neither omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent. He doesn’t become any of these with more experience. He cannot see into the hearts of the members of the church and know everything there is to know about them. God can reveal things to the pastor. God can work miracles through the pastor, but God NEVER gives the pastor the ability to be equal with God or to be the savior of the body. These are qualities reserved by God Himself for Himself.

The theme of this chapter is very simple. You are not the savior of the church! This should bring a sense of relief to you. You don’t have to play God anymore! It is my belief that much of the stress in the ministry is caused by an unhealthy view of the pastor as the one responsible for Spiritual change in the church.

Ephesians 5:25, 26 is clear on this matter. It says,

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave

Himself for it;

That HE might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.”

Only Jesus can sanctify and save the body. Pastoring is one of many gifts God gave to the church for its edification (strengthening.) But the pastor, and the teacher, and the evangelist are helpers, not saviors.

Misinterpretation, Pride, and Power

Why is this even a problem? Why is there any confusion concerning this matter? While I cannot determine what every congregation thinks and feels, I can tell you that these problems generally stem from three sources: misinformation, pride, and power.

Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves.” The word “rule” seems to ascribe a lot of power to the person in charge. Some well-meaning members have taken this to mean the Pastor is always right. One of the consequences is that while one or more members of a church may outwardly respect the Pastor, they may inwardly all but hate him.

If a Pastor reads this scripture incorrectly as well, he or she may begin to get an inflated ego. He may make too many decisions without consulting others. He may step on people’s toes too easily. He may develop a haughty or superior attitude. After all, he has been called and anointed by God and appointed by the overseer. Those who are appointed by a local church board may feel a need to gain more power among the members in order to stave off opposition from the board.

No minister is immune to the possibility of this type of thinking, but young ministers seem especially vulnerable. A young minister is eager to prove himself. He wants to show that he can do the job. He wants to be successful, and if that means “taking charge,” then so be it. He wants to demonstrate that the choice made to put him in this position was a good one.

It should be noted that the Apostle Peter encouraged “the elders” to “feed the flock of God which is among you…neither as being lords over God's heritage.” (1 Peter 5:3) Being “in charge” means being in control. Being in control means having power over the outcome of relevant situations. However, the only One I know Who is truly in control is God. Therefore, if I am being too possessive of power, if I am too controlling, then I am making myself equal to God! This may be, and almost certainly usually is, unconscious. But this has no place in God’s church. Only God can be God.

There is a God. He is good, merciful, powerful, loving, all seeing, all knowing, etc. Obviously, letting God be in control is a good thing (though some members may prefer a weak leader they can manipulate.) God is everything the church needs and more. He is the best administrator, banker, preacher, and counselor. This is refreshing. The Pastor should take comfort that God is God and we are not. We don’t have to try to control everything, and couldn’t do so effectively if we tried. Whatever work we do must flow from Him. We must never lift ourselves up to even the slightest degree. To do otherwise would be an attempt to be what only God is.

Paul gave us a good example and expressed his leadership this way: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Two things are obvious from this verse. First, Paul was getting his directions from Christ. Second, Paul was looking forward to Christ and not back at the people. He didn’t neglect the people. We see his care for the churches expressed through his many letters. But his first priority was to look to God. He wasn’t strong enough to do the job alone. He needed help! He needed God!

If you get a little tired trying to run things, you need to remember: It’s not your job to be God. What a relief!

Chapter 3:

The Spirit of Abram

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

(Genesis 13:7-11)

The job of trying to lead people in the way that seems best to the leader is difficult at best. Sometimes people can be led with little or no difficulty. Other times the leader runs into the obstacle of traditional, yet erroneous, beliefs and personal desires of the followers.

This is especially true of those leading volunteers. When people are following with the understanding that then can freely leave at any time with no financial loss, and little social loss, to themselves, it takes a great deal of wisdom and patience to lead without causing unnecessary division. The minister would do well to learn an important lesson from the life of Abram.

The Vision and (Current) Reality

Abram had been called into the land of Canaan by God Himself. When he arrived, God told him that "this land" would belong to him and his lineage. To a limited degree, Abram was sure of the plan of God. Obviously, there were times when he had a problem understanding the will of God, but he could say, "This is my land because God gave it to me."

But there was another side to this story. With Abram had come a nephew who had not heard the Voice of God. He had seen his uncle build altars to God, but he didn't know this new God, and he certainly had not heard God's Voice. It appears that Abram was the leader of this rather large caravan. After all, they were here in the first place because Abram was hearing a Voice. Lot had not heard the Voice, but had come along nevertheless. Perhaps Abram had been watching over the business dealings of Lot ever since Lot's father had died. By virtue of his age and influence as the elder in the group, Abram was "in charge." But Lot's experience with God was not the same as that of Abram. In fact, his own experience may have been almost non-existent.

With Abram and Lot had come material wealth and servants. It was necessary to have people to manage their assets. In their culture, it was common for men of wealth to have servants. Though we cannot relate to the ownership of servants, we can relate to one aspect of this arrangement. They were leading servants, but these servants were real people. They lead people, and so do those of us involved in ministry (If you don't, you will!) Abram and Lot had to manage a multitude of people, and the picture wasn't pretty.

Abram was leading Lot, they were both leading their households, and flesh raised its ugly head! Whenever you have two or more people together, you have the potential for disagreement. Disagreement is not bad, but the resulting division can be devastating. Not only can division destroy a local church, but it can send an ugly message to those on the outside looking in. Managing this potential is of vital importance to the minister, especially the Pastor.

Sure enough, there came a day when the servants of Lot and the servants of Abram began to argue with one another. While apparently this situation did not cause division between Abram and Lot, they were aware of the problem. A solution had to be found. It fell to Abram as THE leader to offer a solution.

Abram had heard from God. He knew that this land was given to him by God. But he did not stand up and say to Lot, "God has given this land to me, and it's mine! Now you need to leave and let God's will be done!" Abram knew the will of God, but he seemed to know something else that we sometimes forget.

God's Will

While he knew the revealed will of God, he also knew that it was important to avoid division as much as possible. He seems to have known something that Paul reiterated years later. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:15, "...God has called us to peace." Abram wanted above all to preserve what would be the defining characteristic of the church. John 13:35 says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Abram had this to say:

...let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. (Genesis 13:8)

Abram recognized that it was important for them to preserve the peace when possible. The principle of brotherhood was so important that he was willing to back down from what he knew was the proper way in order to preserve the relationship. He says in verse 9,

"Is not the whole land before thee..." (He didn't hold back the land God had promised to him, but included it all,)

"...separate thyself, I pray thee, from me..." (He didn't make any demands, not even demands based on the will of God,)

"...if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the

left." (He allowed Lot to choose, preferring his brother over himself.)

Having your own way is nice, but it isn't realistic. Doing God's will is always preferable, but not everyone is ready for God's will when you are. God may reveal His way to you and allow you to go before dissenters with the vision to plant a seed. It may be that sometime in the future these people will be influenced by your humility. On the other hand, they are likely to be driven even further away if you pressure them to accept something that they don't yet see. God may say to you, "This is the way," but he may work on others in the congregation over time.

Omniscience

Another issue that we need to hear is that we don't know it all just because we are "called and anointed of God." While many of our decisions are prompted by the Spirit, others will probably be prompted by my "good flesh." I may have an idea that seems right and logical, but I have to learn that I don't know everything. Just because I have the best interests of the local church at heart doesn't mean my well-meaning direction is correct. There have been things that I wanted for a local church that seemed to make sense at the time. But later I realized that this wasn't what God wanted.

The fact is, I DON'T KNOW IT ALL! I have at times had a problem admitting this fact. But then I learned that not only wasn't I not "all knowing", but that this was okay. This was a revelation for me. It freed me from having to prove myself. It also released me from the pressure to force my will on others. Sometimes my primary task becomes trying to shepherd sheep with different senses of direction into the same fold with a minimum of conflict.

Ownership

Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build My church...." (Matthew 16:18) It is common for ministers to refer to the church where they pastor as "My church." This isn't wrong. It is a simple way to refer to each congregation in a conversation. However, a problem develops when a minister begins to identify so much with the church under his care that he only sees the work of the church as a reflection of himself. When the work of a church becomes a minister's test of his leadership, there is probably a problem with that minister's perception.

The local church is not a child for you to brag on or discipline. It is not intended to be your living resume. Though it may be a reflection of a minister's style, the church is not a Pastor's possession to be displayed like a photo from a vacation. It belongs to Christ. We are stewards. The work of the church reflects the relationship of the church with Jesus. While we must lead the church, my will must be of secondary importance to the will of God.

There is another fact that is worth noting. While the church belongs to God, the stewardship of the local church may well pass into the hands of another Pastor in the future. Furthermore, most of the people of the church will remain long after you are gone. Especially when the decision being discussed isn't Spiritual (such as what color of carpet to install in the sanctuary), it is often better to be submissive. May God send us examples of men and women who bring their own will under subjection to the church.

Custer's "Last" Stand

There are times when making a stand is very important. Obviously, we don't want to compromise the Word of God. Nor do we want to turn the church over to people who want to paint the walls pink and have hors d'oeuvre before each service. But when we consider making a stand we need to consider several things.

First of all, I remember reading about General George Armstrong Custer. Being somewhat of a history buff, I have read about this bold young man who fought Indians and attempted to bring the West under the authority of the United States government. Unfortunately, after some attacks and successes, Custer made a stand that was famous, not because of his beliefs, but because he lost. If the stand you are making is worth making, it will be worth dying for. If it is worth dying for, your death won't outshine the cause. Your death, or resignation, might be honored, but the stand will be honored as well. There may be times when I need to lay it all on the line, but I don't want it to ever be said I left a church because I didn't like the brand of paper towels used in the bathrooms. In fact, after a while, people may forget WHY I left.

But they will remember that I left. If I leave, or if I make that the option, let it be because of some truly noble Spiritual cause that was for the good of the church, for salvation of individuals, or for my family.

The second thing I need to remember is that "we be brethren." If the issue is not going to disturb the peace of the church, then standing on the issue might be a worthy stand. But remember, if this is the case, then it is likely that the church is mature enough to come to a good decision anyway. The problem will be largely non-existent. (But don't count on it too often!)

The key to this chapter is simple. I mentioned it earlier. Paul was very wise when he said, "...for God hath called us to peace." This simple phrase speaks volumes and is a code to live by. Remembering it will solve many of your problems as a minister.

Chapter 4:

Honesty is the Best Policy

“My members expect me to be perfect. I certainly don’t want to disappoint them by showing my real self. If I can just keep my guard up and not let anyone see the real me, I will be okay!”

How absurd! No one is without weaknesses. None of us are completely desirable to everyone we meet. Yet, there is often this separation between the ministry and the laity. Ministers are often expected to be super heroes. Ministers don’t help matters by trying to BE a super hero. I’ve already written about how we are not God. But we are also not Superman.

Being real with our congregations is imperative. The best pastor I ever had was available to everyone in the congregation. He was personable. When his father died, he came back to town very burdened. Though he wasn’t one to use the pulpit as his forum, he nevertheless took the opportunity to bare his soul about his loss in front of the church. Guess what! People appreciated his weakness and honesty.

Now wait a minute! You may be saying, “Do you really believe that a pastor should share all of his thoughts and feelings with the people of the church?” Certainly not. However, we must be touchable. We must be reachable. People must know that they can approach us and know we are real.

People can’t relate to Superman very well. They are in awe of him and they are interested in what he can do. But Superman never stuck around long enough to develop interpersonal relationships with real people (except maybe Lois Lane.) People want you to be real. This means you must be able to say occasionally, “I am weak.”

Understandably, this can be taken to the extreme. If all you ever do is talk about your weaknesses and problems, people will become discouraged, if they stay around long enough. But a minister can be honest and inspiring at the same time. The secret is to learn when to share and when not to share your feelings.

Hide and Seek

You remember the game “hide and seek” don’t you? My kids still play it. The goal is for one child to find all of the rest of the players, who are purposely trying to hide from the one who is “it.”

This game is similar to church. There are those who have to be in charge. Then there are those who don’t. Those who don’t may not be as open as the one in charge might like for them to be. It becomes the job of the one who is “it” to coax the members out of spiritual hiding and to be open to the Spirit.

But notice something about this game. The one who is doing the finding gets a break. Somebody else gets to be “it.” That gives the other person a chance to be found. The Pastor occasionally needs to be able to open up to the church to show them that he is not trying to be Supreme. He is, after all, as human as they are, his calling notwithstanding. Occasionally, he needs to be able to say, “I am weak. Has someone else heard from God?” Actually, grace makes it possible for every member to hear from God and not just the Pastor.

Whoa!

We can’t just leave it here, however. I mean, we have to know when to be open and when not to be. I don’t mean we should sometimes be deceptive. But we must use wisdom to know when it is appropriate to be vulnerable and when not to be.

Timing and Godly wisdom are crucial. Sometimes Paul seemed to write about his past to show his humanness. He didn’t talk about his apostleship to remind people of his authority. He did so to show, in conjunction with reminding them of his past, the great grace of God that had been bestowed on him. However, Paul didn’t just talk about himself all the time. He did so when there was a lesson to be learned. He did so when it was edifying to do so.

We must know our people. A speaker I heard a few years ago said the average length of stay for a Pastor at a given church was eighteen months. While I don’t mean to sound self-righteous, I found that it took me at least two good years to get to know my congregation. And my congregation is small. As Pastors we must know our people. We must understand their moods, their desires, their expectations, and their disappointments. This knowledge will help us in a number of ways, but it will especially help us know when self-disclosure is appropriate and when it is not. There is a time to tell them you are not a super hero, but that time isn’t every time they see you.

Your people need a Pastor who is “real.” They also need one who is able to strike a good balance between self-disclosure and strong leadership. Be real, but be wise. Honesty carefully administered is of great value to the one who would be a good Pastor.

Chapter 5:

Living by Faith and Paying the Bills

When I was first asked to pastor a church, I looked back into my memory at some of the small churches my dad had pastored and churches that I had visited. While I don’t know how much my father made from any particular church, I had it in my mind that some churches would only be able to afford to pay a pastor $200.00 per month.

I thought I would get a church that paid $200.00 a month. This was okay. I also thought I might have to help the church pay its bills. This was also okay. I was prepared. Actually, things were considerably better than what I had prepared myself to face. I still worked a “secular” job. I wasn’t making, in my opinion, enough that I could become a full-time pastor, but what I was getting from the church actually turned out to be extra for me.

But a dilemma began to present itself to me. Shouldn’t I be full-time? Shouldn’t I step out on faith and let the Lord take care of me? I remember discussing this with a minister whom I respected. He was quick to encourage me that it was okay to pastor and work another job besides. I was not a sinner, nor was I less Spiritual because I worked a nine-to-five job. Nevertheless, there was always this nagging feeling that perhaps I should pastor full-time.

The question is very simple- “When does a pastor need to be full-time?” But while the question is simple, the answer may be a little more difficult.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work I Go!

When should a pastor work an additional job? There are several questions, but the first one must always be considered whether we consider the other questions or not. The first question is “What does the Lord want me to do?”

Coming up with this answer may not be as easy as some may think. Some people, including some ministers, think a minister should always be full-time regardless of his or her circumstances. Undoubtedly, it is exposure to this type of thinking that causes many would-be pastors to wrestle with guilt over this issue. But just because some person thinks it is right or wrong doesn’t make it so. Well-meaning people can be, and often are, wrong. The minister who struggles with this question must look away from the good intentions of those around him for the answer. He must look up!

I worked a secular job for approximately eight years before I heard the Lord say, “Why don’t you try pastoring full-time?” Maybe He had tried to say this earlier, but I think I had been relatively open to His voice. I just hadn’t heard Him on this matter up to that point. But once God made Himself clear to me, I knew the way to go. I didn’t need any person to tell me what to do.

God often uses people to tell us what to do. The danger is that people often tell us what they themselves want to hear. But God can use an individual in such a way that you know it is Him speaking and not that person. However, whether God uses a person to speak to us or some other means of communication, the bottom line is you must hear from God!

Questions, Questions

Circumstances often dictate what we need to do. The key is to make sure circumstances aren’t dictating something that is against God’s will. Once we are clear on what God wants, and we can feel comfortable that God is not forbidding us from taking certain actions, we need to make an honest assessment of our situation.

Advice at this stage may be good, but always be careful to note that the person giving the advice is not in your shoes. Listen, learn, and then apply the advice carefully to your situation.

“Can I afford to pastor full-time?” If you can, then much of your struggle is probably over, but not necessarily. A friend of mine told me of being appointed to a church in a town where nearly everybody already attended church somewhere. Evangelism may still have been needed in that town, but the amount of evangelism needed did not preclude him from taking a part-time job to keep him from being bored. So in addition to the financial question, there is the question, “If I ‘go full-time’, will there be anything for me to do?” God has not called us to idleness. He has called us to preach and to do the other things that come under the umbrella of “ministering.”

For me, the best thing about being full-time is being free in emergencies (and being free to keep my son while my wife is working.) I can take care of church business during business hours. I can visit without being tired from a day of work at another job, though I may be tired from some pastoral duties. I don’t have to cram a sermon together during precious free time. And I have time to do the things that might otherwise be neglected if I were unavailable ten hours a day Monday through Friday.

Changing Times

I once asked a guest speaker to preach in one of our Sunday morning services. He was a nice guy, and was somewhat inspirational, but one thing he said troubled me. He believed women should not work outside of the home. To him, this was wrong.

The guest minister was against women working outside of the home, but his stand on this issue caused me to consider the day in which we live. The trouble was, his kids were all grown, he had probably paid his home off many years before, and had no idea what a family had to do to make ends meet in the nineties. Times had changed. Housing is more expensive than it was forty years ago. There are no more $95.00 per month house payments, at least in the USA that I know. Twenty dollars will no longer buy a week’s worth of groceries. Though school is paid for by taxes, there are still a lot of out-of-pocket expenses a parent must pay for a child to go to school. Gas is no longer forty-nine cents a gallon. The world has changed in forty years, and often drastically. These changes have had a deep impact on the minister’s ability to pay the bills on a Pastor’s salary.

Just as the world has changed, so do our personal circumstances change from time to time. You may start with just your wife and yourself to support, but when children come along, expenses go up. Always be ready to reassess your own circumstances and make necessary changes. You may have to work for a limited time in order to meet a particular need, or you may find it almost impossible to survive on your pastoral salary. Certainly you have a responsibility to your family and yourself in such a situation, and I don’t believe it would be sin for you to work in order to meet those obligations.

I remember a story of a minister who left town without paying his bills and presumably without leaving a forwarding address. Now let me ask you, is it better to minister full-time and not pay your bills, or to work a second job in order to fulfill your obligations? Surely this story is an exception, but it makes the point well enough that we must pay the bills even if it means taking on extra work. Not paying your bills and not fulfilling your legal responsibilities is a reproach on the church, a reproach on the ministry, a reproach on your family, a reproach on yourself, and in most cases is a sin against God!

While it is good to pastor full-time, you should listen to God, weigh the circumstances, and then make your own decision. The only sin comes when you disobey God and don’t fulfill your obligations, not when you disappoint men.

Chapter 6:

The Star

Everybody knows about it. Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker made news that set the religious world on its ears. Both later confessed to their respective sins. Rev. Swaggart said on national television, “I have sinned!” Jim Baker wrote a book entitled, I Was Wrong.[2]

By now, this news is very old. It seems like a long time ago. The dust has settled, but there is a lingering after-affect. We ministers have suffered the fate of the politicians. Politicians used to get a lot of respect. But when Watergate became public knowledge, people began to seriously doubt the motives and integrity of our representatives in government. Long after Richard Nixon’s resignation, America holds a deep-seated mistrust of government and government officials.

The ministry has not yet overcome the influence of the Swaggart and Baker scandals. We are suffering from the glow of the religious “stars.” People often view ministers with a suspicion that was there less often just a few years ago. While being famous and on television is not bad, when things go wrong to those who are most seen by the public, it leaves scars.

Live and in Person

The electronic age is here to stay. This has some advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. When a media personality “messes up,” it doesn’t take long for the world to hear about it. It doesn’t matter if that person is well liked or hated. The news of a downfall is too hard for news reporters to resist. After all, scandal sells. It is exciting to the viewers. People watch the news, sponsors get exposure for their products, networks make more money, and everybody’s happy. Well, almost.

You see, we are busy people. We would rather lump everyone in a particular group together regardless of differences. It’s easier that way. We don’t want to take the time to charge one and forgive another. This takes too much time. So when one of the group falls, everyone gets blamed.

Another problem is that for all of our decrying the media and its shortcomings, we seem to trust them implicitly. If they say it on the news, it must be true! And while we hope they tell the truth most of the time, we are often all too willing to take their word for something without weighing the options for ourselves. Therefore, if one minister falls, and certainly if two fall, then maybe these guys aren’t so great after all.

Of course, we are not God, and we don’t need to be treated like kings. But it is important for people to be able to feel that they can trust their pastor.

So What!

“So what! I’m not having a problem because of this.” Actually, you may be having more problems than you think. Respect for the ministry is at a very low point. And much of the disrespect takes place behind your back. Now, don’t be paranoid! But please, do be aware! What you do and what you say and how you live is scrutinized very closely by the some of the same people you face from the pulpit. Even worse, people who don’t attend your church are watching you. How you live and how you are perceived determines what many think about God-called ministers. While you can’t control what people think, and while some people would be critical of Jesus Himself, you can determine what people see.

If the world thinks poorly of ministers, it seems logical that we need to show them a real man or woman of God. Certainly we shouldn’t become arrogant. However, if we watch what we say and what we do, and if we are attempting to let Christ live the standard of His Word through us, people will see what the ministry is supposed to be. They will have a higher regard for the ministry, and more important, they will have a higher regard for Christianity.

My Hero

He is number one in my book (below the Lord.) He is full of integrity. People apparently respect him completely. He has been a shining light throughout his ministry. As far as I know, he has been above reproach and his integrity has not been seriously challenged. His organization is above reproach in every way, including financially.

Billy Graham has stood the test of time. Though now in his later years, he has never failed to be a great example of what the ministry or Christianity should be. He is honest and open, and his message is the same as it has always been- Jesus Christ can save your soul! I will probably never be equal to him and will probably never have a ministry quite like his, but I find myself wanting to follow him in his basic Christian walk. He is the real deal, and few really doubt it.

Mother Teresa was another example of someone who was totally committed to what they thought God wanted them to do. She lived sacrificially, lovingly, and honestly. She has left a legacy that few can ever hope to equal.

But their example is in some ways futile if we who bear the load of ministry now don’t pick up their mantle and trust God like they did. Maybe I’ll never preach to thousands of people at one time or shake the hand of a President of the United States, but I can maintain a life of honesty, responsibility, humility, openness, and sacrifice. All of these things are possible through the grace of God.

More Heroes

Heroes intrigue me. I have a collection of articles and stories about people who have made a difference in their worlds. These stories range from Olympic athletes to a school principle that refuses to allow students to use profanity at school. I have stories about people who did the least desirable thing in order to help the team achieve the greatest results. They were selfless, sacrificing, and team oriented. Some made the headlines, but most didn’t make page one. Also, most were heroes because of a single event, but some were heroes because of a consistent stand for what was right.

Heroes inspire. They cause people to take notice of what is possible and what is important. They look beyond themselves to a goal that ordinary people have often missed. They do things they didn’t plan to do, but they believed they could do what was necessary, at least when it mattered the most.

It’s Up to You

I often pray about my ministry. I ask God to help me be a better minister, but I generally follow that request with one that I feel is of much greater importance. I ask God to help me a better Christian. For me, part of being a good Christian means being an obedient minister since this is my calling. However, if for some reason I am not allowed to pastor anymore, I still have an obligation to let my light shine so that others will glorify God. Most of the people I see through the course of a week don’t see me in the pulpit, but they do see me. What they observe as I act and interact will affect them much more than what I say in the pulpit. Furthermore, of those who do hear me preach every week, most will weigh what I say against what I do. If my walk doesn’t match my talk, my talk will not have any positive influence over them. Therefore, it is necessary that I live carefully.

Living carefully is the fruit of where I am in Christ. If my relationship with Him is suffering, I will not be able to fool people for very long. If, however, I nurture my relationship with Him like I would my dearest treasure, then the fruit of the Spirit will be seen in my life. Quite simply, I must do the things that I know to do. These are the basics of Christian living, and they are the things that are often a struggle for every Christian. They include Bible reading, prayer, and loving my neighbor as myself. I have to remember the simple rule to be honest in every area of my life. (Unfortunately, too many ministers have nurtured the bad example of Baker and Swaggert by lying!) I have to watch my temper. (Ouch!) If I can’t maintain my Spiritual walk, I cannot be a hero to anyone. My example will be too poor.

Mother Teresa is gone and Billy Graham won’t be around much longer. Billy Sunday is dead. So are the Wesleys. We can honor and revere those who came before us. But they cannot live our lives for us. And we cannot simply continue to point back to them to show the world what true Christianity looks like. We have to live it! We must have a life that is such that our church can brag about us, but so can our family. We have to be an example on Sundays, but our day off should be just as circumspect. People need to see the real thing in a minister. It’s up to you! You’re the one God called, and you’re the one who the world is watching now. Other ministers have influenced what the world thinks about the ministry, some for the worse, some for the better. But now it’s your turn. The integrity of the ministry is in your hands.

Don’t just preach it. Live it!

Chapter 7:

The Mentor

What do you do when you have a problem at your church and you don’t know how to solve it? What do you do when your church doesn’t grow? How do you deal with an unruly deacon or lay minister? How do you bring about consensus out of division?

What happens when you have to preach but don’t feel like it? What do you do when you are so burned out that you can hardly stand to look at the church building?

Obviously these questions don’t begin to cover all of the problems a minister could have when pastoring. But what do you do when…?

Ministry is stressful! Ministry can feel lonely. There are three things that I think are a must for a minister to be effective. They are a right relationship with God, a good wife, and a mentor. Most of us would agree that the relationship with God is an absolute. Most of us would agree that a good, supportive, ministry-minded wife is indispensable, though some ministers have been effective without being married. However, a surprising number of ministers attempt to minister without having someone to teach and support them from a minister’s perspective. When things get lonely- and they will- a mentor is a blessing! When things get confusing- and they will- a mentor is a Godsend! When you are tempted- and you will be- a mentor is a necessity!

My Mentor

Many religious organizations have been talking about mentoring for quite some time. Promise Keepers stresses the need for men to mentor men. I have learned from personal experience that men need to HAVE a mentor and they need to BE a mentor.

A few years ago I was experiencing a great deal of turmoil in my mind concerning my church. That, coupled with politics at my secular job, led to a great deal of frustration and discouragement on my part. I had my share of questions. I needed someone who was wise enough to help me face my situation and get through it without quitting. As it turned out, God had already brought into our district a Pastor with whom I had worked in the past. He had been my unofficial mentor for quite awhile. But now I needed him in a more specific way. I approached him and asked if he would consider pursuing a mentoring relationship so that I could learn from his experience and wisdom.

His response was very wise. He said he would pray about it. He did, and later told me that he felt it was the Lord’s will. He wanted to meet with me once a week. And so, we did. We talked about my church, though he never tried to run my church. We talked about my secular job. We talked about all of the issues with which I was dealing at the time. Clinton Fields listened to me when I needed to vent. He advised me when I needed direction. He held me accountable when I was tempted. He was everything a mentor should be.

Whether or not I have had much success as a Pastor or as a person is up for debate, but whatever success I have had can be traced to four sources: A merciful and gracious God, loving and wise parents, a supportive and loving wife, and my mentor!

Listening

I don’t care what people say or think. Pastoring is a hard job. It is especially difficult for someone is a perfectionist and wants everything in black and white. When the gray appears, you need someone to help you sort through the cobwebs (which are gray) and see more clearly. Just having someone who can listen to you and understand what is going on is wonderful.

Most people don’t understand the difficulties of pastoring. It really takes another Pastor to truly understand the frustrations, problems, and needs of the Pastor. This is the person who can listen as you pour out your heart. The need to be heard is very important. Too often pastors are appointed to a church or hired by a church and sent out with no line of communication to anyone who is even remotely able to support him. Finding someone who can listen is a great need among ministers. Otherwise, loneliness and isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, and even sin.

I like to use a very simple example to illustrate the need to be heard. I like to think of a balloon. Obviously, a balloon has to be blown up. But what would happen if you just kept blowing (assuming you have strong lungs)? Eventually, the balloon would burst under the pressure of your lungs. People are just like this in that we have to “let off steam.” We need to “vent.” If we don’t, we run a very real danger of allowing sin to take control of our lives. If we don’t talk, we may quit because we are “fed-up.” We may turn away from God altogether. How many ministries have shipwrecked when all they needed was a listening ear? How many ministers have ended up having an affair because they felt their secret partner was meeting a need that no one else was meeting (and I’m not just talking about sex!) Having a mentor can be a safety net for the minister, whether his ministry is pastoral or otherwise.

Advising

By the way, remember that I said it was helpful to be willing to admit that you aren’t Superman to your church? Well, guess what! You also need to be willing to admit it to yourself. You need to be willing to say, “I don’t know how to pastor,” or “I don’t know how to handle this particular situation.” We should be willing to ask, “Can someone please help me?”

Not only do you need a good listener, but you also need someone who can give good, solid advice. From some other things I have said in this book you might get the idea I am against getting advice from others. This is not true. Actually, if you pray and listen to God, He may very well send someone to you who has a Word from the Lord just for you. The right advice from the right person at the right time can be of inestimable value. The church was set up in part so that people can fellowship with each other, and this is true of Pastors as well as the laity.

Accountability

Accountability cannot be overemphasized. When my mentor and I met, he would ask me about specific situations we had discussed the week before. Knowing I had to answer to someone helped me. It didn’t make me feel guilty or afraid to sin, it helped me to feel supported.

Weakness is normal, but it helps to have someone who will ask the hard questions. “Have you lied this week?” “Have you studied the Word?” “Have you prayed this week?” “Have you lusted after a woman (or man)?” “Have you been in a compromising situation with someone of the opposite sex?” Obviously, the questions can and should range from the “slightly uncomfortable” to the “most uncomfortable.” The challenge is to find someone who knows which questions to ask. Some of the questions given here would be unnecessary in your situation, while other questions would need to be asked but weren’t asked here.

Choosing a Mentor

Now let me say something to you right here and now. There are some people who I don’t go to for advice. I don’t try to get them to listen to me as I bare my soul. I don’t become accountable to them except as directed by the Bible. Sometimes you may have to account for your ministry to someone you do not respect. However, not just anyone should be your mentor.

Often times the wrong person can be unduly negative and in worse shape than you are. Some people leave you feeling edified, but the wrong person can leave you lower than before they came along. I try not to call these people. I try not to go out of my way to follow them. When I see them I treat them with as much respect as I can. I treat them like I do most people. But under no circumstance do I ask for their advice or follow their lead. This is because they have proven to me already that they are wild cards. They are loose cannons that approach life without caution. Or perhaps they attack life with too much cynicism. I have too much trouble with pessimism as it is. I certainly don’t need anyone to help me get better acquainted with the bad side of life. Be careful and prayerful about whom you choose as your mentor or about who chooses to mentor you.

As I illustrated earlier, when my mentor and I first began a regular series of meetings together, it began with prayer. God did indeed put the two of us together. In fact, the first time I attempted to start a mentoring relationship with an elder minister, he did not feel it was the leading of the Spirit. He was correct. Therefore, we did not begin a mentoring relationship, though we were and are friends. But God put me into a mentoring relationship with the right person, and it was a good arrangement. God certainly knew what he was doing.

We have to be able to lean on the Lord, but He often uses a person to work through. Paul recognized this when he wrote, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)

A final note is essential here- you can be on the giving end of mentoring as well as on the receiving end. It is a good idea to pass along to others the things you have learned. We all need somebody, and we all need to be there for somebody who needs us. Mentoring is a way to support the work of the ministry- both yours and someone else’s.

Chapter 8:

Out of Season

Second Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Being “instant in season, out of season” has been interpreted by many to mean we, as ministers should be ready to preach a sermon at a moment’s notice. Perhaps this idea is plausible and desirable, for we should always be ready to give an account of the grace of God in our lives. However, this passage in 2 Timothy actually addresses something else.

In Rick Renner’s book, Living in the Combat Zone, he tells in considerable detail how Nero came to power and was worshipped, like some of the previous Roman emperors, as a god. He was so consumed with the desire to have men worship him that he wanted to tear down many of the major buildings of Rome and “remodel” with a statue of himself in the center of every new building.[3]

However, the Christians refused to worship him, much to his dismay. Obviously, emperor worship did not fit in with the concept of Christianity and One God. Therefore, Nero was upset with the Christians, to say the least.[4]

When Nero wanted to change the look of Rome with statues of himself adorning the major public facilities, the Senate decided enough was enough and said “No!” Nero decided he didn’t need the Senate and simply instructed his servants to burn the city of Rome. A showdown between Nero and the Senate became imminent as the Senate now had to deal with 300,000 homeless slaves and peasants! The Senate called Nero to appear before them. Nero had to do something to save himself, so on the way to the trial, he concocted a plan to save his own neck and get rid of the Christians at the same time. He blamed the Christians for the burning of Rome, and incredibly enough, he was very successful in convincing the Senators that this was true![5]

Suddenly, the religion known as Christianity went from being one of many accepted religions in the realm to one that was no longer tolerated. The horrible torture of Christians is legendary, and the diabolic madness of Nero can be seen in the many devices of death that were used to supposedly dispose of this “rebellious” band of believers.[6]

What effect did this have on Timothy’s church? We know because of 1 and 2 Timothy. 1 Timothy was written during a time of prosperity and success for Timothy’s church. Paul wrote to him about things such as the positions of Bishops and Deacons. He wrote about dealing with different groups of people in the congregation. 1 Timothy is a good book to read to learn how to deal with a church that is moving in call “the right direction.”

However, 2 Timothy was written during the time of the above-mentioned persecution. While we don’t know much about specific situations in the church at this time, it’s fair to assume that the picture was not a pretty one. People were becoming afraid and not coming back. People who stayed behind to weather the storm were becoming tired and dispirited. It was more difficult for Timothy to preach with the same kind of fervor that he once had. Where there had once been a season of success, there was now a wintry season of despair, uncertainty, and fear.[7]

Too Burned Out to Preach (or Do Anything Else)

How do you pastor a church that is not experiencing success right at this moment? How do you face another Sunday morning crowd when you think the people would rather be somewhere